Cigarette dispensing and lighting machine



March 21, 1933.

s. VERNET CIGARETTE DISPENSING AND LIGHTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13,

1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 55/?6/05 VE/P/YET 'ATToR EYS.

March 21, 1933. s VERNET;

CIGARETTE DISPENSING AND LIGHTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR $E/IGIZ/5 V RNE T S. VERNET March 21,1933.

CIGARETTE DISPENSING Aim LIGHTING momma Filed Jan. HD1926 3 Sheets-SheetI5 INVENTOR saw/us ems-r ATTO NEYS.

Patented Mar. 21,

UNITED STATES snmrus mm, or naooxmm, new YORK.

016mm msnm'sr ne AND ome I Application Med January .18, me. Serial'llo.80,881.

This invention relates to machines for automatically delivering andlighting cigarettes, ci ars,.or the like.

One the cigar and cigarette lighters which has been used heretofore forautomobile use comprises anelectrical i ition element on theend of anautomatica ly rewinding extension cord. The element must be drawn outand held in contact with the end of the cigarette, which is held in themouth of the smoker while the smoker pufis thereon in order to light thecigarette. It requires considerable attention to hold the ignitingelement at the end of the cigarette so that it is diflicult for thedriver of the automobile to light his cigarette and still keep hisattention on the road. Other devices have been. developed which willdeliver and light a cigarette by automatically applying an ignitionelement to one end and suction from the intake manifold of the engine tothe other. These machines, because of the sucexpensive tion connections,are ne cessaril are thereto manufacture and install an fore prohibitivefrom the average consumers point of view.

It is one of the objects of m invention to rovide a machine for disensing and lightmg cigarettes, cigars, or t e like, which willautomatically deliver and light a. cigarette with a single, simple, andnatural movement of the hand.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a cigarette dispensingand lighting machine which may be simply made at a low cost, it beingpossible to press substantially all the parts out of sheet metal.

Another object of the invention isto provide a machine for lightingcigarettes or 4 the like without the use of artifically applied suctionat the end of the cigarette.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for lightingcigarettes in which a natural draft, produced by the con- '45 structionof the parts and by the heating cigarettes in which the cigarette restsagainst the igniting element by its own weight, thereby eliminating thedanger of damaging or breaking the cigarette, as often occurs inmachines heretofore used for this 65 purpose.

Other objects of the invention will be ap arcnt as the descriptionproceeds.

n the drawings, WhlCll show a preferred form of embodimentof theinvention.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a cigarette,dispensing and lighting machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is asectional side elevation of the machine, taken on the line 22 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan eview 0 machine, taken on the line 3-45 ofFig. 1;

, Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional side views correspondin to Fig. 2 andshowing successive ci arette delivery pos tionsof the machine; ig. 6 isa sectional side view of another embodiment of the invention, in whichthe cigarette is more easily accessible after the delivery and lightingoperations;

Fig. 7 is a sectional side view' of still another embodiment of theinvention, in which the cigarette is more easilyaccessible after thedelivery and lighting operations;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 7

Figs. 9 and 10 are a sectional side view and a front view, respectively,of a further embodiment of my invention, wherein the cigarette itselfholds the switch which controls the ignition element to insure theproper lighting of the cigarette; and

Fig. 11 isa perspective view of the ignition element, with the variousparts separated for clearness.

In the form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5,the cigarette dispensing and lighting machine comprises a casing l whichconsists of a back plate 2, side plates 3 and 4, and a front plate 5.These plates may be held together in any desired manner, as bysoldering, to form the casing, or they may be stamped out of a singlesheet of metal and bent to the proper shape. The side members '3 and 4have an enlargement 6 and 7 respectively, near the bottom of each.plate, which extends transthe versely across the plate. The rear plate 2has an enlargement 8 extending transversely across the plate, the bottomedge of the enlarged portion being even with the bottom edges of theenlargements 6 and 7 of the sides 3 and 4. The front plate '5 has itslower portion bent backward to form a shelf 9, upon which is adapted torest the cigarette dispensing slide 10. This slide 10 is composedsubstantially of a single piece of sheet metal bent to form arectangular shell 11, which is large enough to accommodate a cigaretteand which is open at both the top and the bottom, to allow the cigaretteto pass therethrough. The ends of the shell 11 rest in the extendedportions 6 and 7 of the side plates 3 and 4 which provide a track orguide so that the shell 11 may be moved backward and forward therein. Afinger piece 12 is bent at right angles to the front wall of the shell11 and extends through a hole 13 in the front plate 5. A leaf spring 14is attached to the rear wall of the shell 11 by any suitable means, suchas rivets, and

bears against the rear wall2 of the machine,

the ends of the s ring resting on the ledge formed by the en argedportion 8 in the rear late 2, and ur es the slide 10 toward the ont wall5. partition 15 extends between .thetwo side plates 3 and 4, midwaybetween the front and rear plates 5 and 2, and separates the inside ofthe machine into two cigarette containing compartments. The front late 5and partition 15 may be provided with openings 5a and 15a through whichthe cigarettes in the container may be seen. A cover plate 16 isattached to the rear plate 2 by means of a hinge 17, and keeps thecasing 1 covered by its own weight. The rear plate 2 may containdepressions 18 containin holes 19 through which screws 20 may be rivento attach the machine to some support suchas the instrument board of anautomobile. The top of the front plate 5 is preferably'a little lowerthan the top of the rear plate 2, so that with the cover- 16 raised,access may be had to the screws 20 to attach the machine to a support.The

rear plate 2 is provided with inwardly exof the casing 1 from movingforwardly in the'casing when any cigarettes are contained in the forwardcompartment. A plurality of upstanding strips 24 are formed integralwith the rear wall of the rectangular shell 11 of the slide 10 and arebent-so as to form noses 25, which extend slightly above and beslide 10at either side of the'finger piece 12 and pass through slots 10b in thefront plate when the slide is operated.

A pair of cigarette receiving hooks 26 and 27 are attached to the rearplate to catch the cigarette when it is dropped from the container.These hooks are arranged on an incline, so that the cigarette is allowedto slide downwardly in the hooks toward the ignition element 28 which isattached at one side of the machine and in line with the inclination ofthe hooks. The lowermost edge of the rear plate 2 is preferably cut tofollow the inclination of the hooks. The side plate 4 is extendeddownwardly and bent to form a chimney 29 which is closed on four sidesand has an opening 30 at the top and 31 at the bottom.

The ignition element 28 comprises acupshaped metallic container 32 intowhich 1s fitted a cup-shaped insulator 33 and the element supportingblock 34. This block 34 may be made of lava, porcelain, or other heatresisting materials, and is cylindrical in shape, one end being out OKat an angle at 35 to support the heating element perpendicular to theend of the cigarette. An integral annular rim 36 extends around theblock 34 and fits snugly a ainst the inside of the insulating cup 33. nextension 37 on the rear of the block 34 asses through a hole in thecup-shaped insu ator 33 and rests against the container 32. Conductingrings- 38 and 39 are attached to the ends of the block 34 at either sideof the mm 36, and

rings 41 and 42 contact with rings 38 and 39, respectively. Ring 42 isattached through an insulator 43 to a binding post 44, to which a wire45 leading to the battery may be connected. A wire 46 is attached toring 41 at 47 and asses through an opening 48 in the side 0 thecontainer 32, and up in back of the rear wall 2 of the machine to theswitch 49. An opening 34a is provided in the element supportin block .34which passes from the angular ace thereof to the bottom of the annularrim 36 and cooperates with a hole 32a in the container 32 and a hole 33ain the insulator 33 to rmit a current of air to pass therethroug Thecontainer 32 is attached to the side wall of the chimney 29 by bayonetjoints 54, and when removed therefrom, the ring 41 may be removed andthe element supporting block 34, together with the rings 38 and 39 andthe elements 40, may be removed and replaced.

The ring 41 is insulated from the wall of the chimney 29 by means of theinsulating ring 41a. The switch 49 is mounted on and insulated from therear plate 2 by means of an insulating strip 50 which is attached to therear plate 2. The switch 49 is composed of a spring strip which passesup behind the slide and'is adapted to be pushed toward the rear wall 2when the slide 10 is pushed in. Natural tension of the spring normallykeeps it away from the rear wall 2. A projection 51 on the switch 49provides a positive contact with the rear wall 2 and to' ground throughthe frame of the machine when the slide is pushed in. If the machine isattached to a wooden instrument board or other insulated support, thecasing may be grounded by connecting a grounded wire to one of thescrews used to attach the machine to the support.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Both the forward and therear compartments of the container being full of cigarettes, thelowermost cigarette in the forward container will rest upon the shelf 9forming part of the front plate and within the shell 11 comprising theslide. When the slide is pushed in with the finger, the cigarette ismoved by the front wall of the v shell 11 toward the backof the machineand the uprights 10a contact with the next cigarette in the frontcompartment and raise it slightly, thereby preventing another cigarettefrom falling into the shell 11 of the slide before the slide hasreturned to its normal position. The spring 49 is pressed rear-- wardlyby the slide and projection 51 contacts with the rear plate 2. Thisforms a circuit from the battery through wire .45,

rings 42 and 39, the heating element, rings 38 and 41, wire 46 andswitch 49, to ground through the frame of the machine. The heatingelement becomes hot and the cigarette which has fallen on the hooks 26and 27 and is resting lightly thereagainst is lighted. In order tohasten the lighting of the end of the cigarette the chimney 29 isprovided, in which a natural draft is generated by the heat arising fromthe ignition element 40. The opening 34a in the element supporting block34, permits air to enter through the hole 32, as indicated by thearrows, up through the block 34 and around the heating element 40, andup the chimney 29, coming out of the opening at the top thereof. Thisprovides suflicient draft to ignite the tobacco at the end of thecigarette in a minimum time without requiring suction to be applied atthe opposite end of the cigarette. When the pressure on the finger 5piece 12 is released, the slide -10 is returned to the front of themachine, the contact of the switch 19 broken, and the current to the Ielement 40 cut off. The lighted cigarette ma then be removed from thehooks 26 and 2 and placed in the mouth by the same hand which was usedfor operating the slide 10. By repeating this 0 eration, all thecigarettes in the forwar com artment of the container will be drop edown one b one on the hooks 26 and 2 and lighted. en there are no morecigarettes in the forward compartment, the outward movement of the slide10 will cause the noses to engage the lowermost cigarette in the rearcompartment and urge it toward the front. The swing-- ing door 22 beingfreely pivoted between the side plates 3 and 4, will readily rotate, as

indicated in Fig. 5, so that the portions 23 will raise and permit thelowermost cigarette in the rear compartment to move into the forwardcompartment and down into the shellll of the slide. The inward movementof the slide will then cause this" ci arette to drop on to the hooks asdescribed efore, and the return of the slide will urge another cigarettefrom the, rear compartment under the swinging door 22, into the shell 11of the slide 10. A repetition of the operation of the slide will causeall of the cigarettesin the rear compartment to be dropped one by onefrom the machine.

If desired, a lock 52 may be placed in the finger piece 12 of the slide10 to extend pins 53 at each side of the finger piece 12, to lock theslide 10 in a nonoperative position.

The ignition unit 28 is made removable so that the element and block 36may be renewed if the element should burn out.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the

uppermost hook 55 for catching the cigarette as it drops from thecontainer, is attached to the slide 10 and moves back and forththerewith. When the slide is pushed in, therefore, and a cigarette isdropped out of the container, the hook 55' is in a position directlyunder the container, similar to the hook 26 shown in Fig. 1. When theslide is allowed to move outwardly, the hook 55 moves also, as indicatedin dot-and-dash lines, moving the upper end of the cigarette" level asthe lower or right hand hook 60. The other part, 61, is attached to theslide 10- lot and moves back and forth therewith throu h a slot'62 inthe shelf 9 forming part of t e front. wall. When the slide is pushedin,-

the parts 61 and 58 of the hook 57 close to- -wardly and the end 'of thecigarette is ing position at an angle similar to the posiv tion in whichthe-hooks 26 and 27 of Fig. 1' hold it. Upon the slide moving outwar ly,the portion 61 of the hook 57 is moved outpreferred embodiment shown inFigs. 1 and 2, it is necessary to hold ,the slide in its innermostposition until the cigarette has been lighted, as contact is made by theswitch only when the slide is held in.. In orderto rovide for lightingthe cigarette bya sing e inward push and immediate release of the slide,the device shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is provided. The switch 49, which issimilar to the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is placed directly abovethe lowermost hook 63, and an arm 64: is pivotally attached to the rearwall above the contact point of the switch 49. The arm 64 is bi furcatedat the top to straddle the switch 49 and the bottom is narrowed downat65 to pass through a slot 66 in the hook 63. An insulating strip 67 ismounted on the switch 49 adjacent the bifurcated portion of the arm 64,so that the arm 5641: will not contact with the switch 49 but will pressagainst the insulating strip 67.. When the switch 49 s pressed inwardlyby the slide 10, the arm 49 falls of its own weight, so that the hook I63 is open and. ready to receive a cigarette.

The cigarette having been deposited'in the hook, holds the arm'd l atone side thereif, which, in turn, holds the switch 49 in contactingposition, though the slide 10 is allowed to return to its normalposition. The ignition element will, therefore, remain heated until thecigarette is withdrawn from the hook 63, at which'time the spring switchis will cause the arm 64 to move into i the position indicated by thedot-and-dash lines of Fig. 9. The long leverage of the arm 64 preventsthe arm from crushing the cigarette due to the tension of the spring, asvery little pressure at the bottom of the arm 64 is necessary to holdthe switch 49 in contact. In case the cigarette is allowed to remain inthe 11001563, the ignition element will remain lighted and the cigarettewill gradually burn up. When such burning passes the arm 64, the armwill fly out and the current will be automatically cut ofi. Thismodification is advantageous also Where it is desired to light acigarette ofa different brand, for instance, from that contained in themachine, The arm 64 may be pressed in with the finger and a. cigaretteinserted in the hooks and lighted without" moving the slide 1O.

From the fore oiiig it will be evident that I have provide a machinewhich is easy and simple to manufacture, substantially all the partsbeing stamped and pressed out of sheet metal, and which will deliver andlight a cigarette by merely a pressing movement of the finger on thefinger piece, without the use of any suction applied to the end of thecigarette.

.While I have described the device as a machine for delivering andlighting cigarettes, it is understood that by slight changes in the sizeof the machine, it would work squall well with cigars, and although Ihave escribed the machine as particularly advantageous for use inautomobiles, it may also he used in the home, in cigar stores, or,

by providing coin-controlled mechanism for operating the dispensingslide, in cigarette or cigar dispensing slot niachines- Although I havedescribed the chimney in connection with the modifications illustrated,it is to be understood that'the lighter will work without the chimney,but that the chimney, by providing a circulation of air, shortens thetime required rette. y

Many modifications and changes in the embodiments shown and described mabe made without departing from the spirit of to light the cigatheinvention, and I do not desire to limit myself to the embodiments shownand described but to interpret the invention hroadly within the scope oithe appended. claims.

I claim:

1. In a cigarette dispensing and li hting machine, a container for asupply 0 cigarettes comprising front and rear compartments, a dispensingslide mounted at the bottom thereof and having an opening extendingtherethrough large enough to accommodate a cigarette, means to close thebottom and open the top of said opening when said slide is in its normalouter position. and to open the bottom and close the top when said slideis in its inner position, andmeans connected with said slide to urge acigarette from said rear compartment to said front compartment when saidfront 1 compartment is empty.

, 2. In a. cigarette dis ensing and ii hting machine, a container or a.supply 0 ciga= rettes comprising front, side and rear plates,

a partition midway between said front and rear plates dividing saidcontainer into front and rear compartments, inwardly extending portionsintegral with'said rear plate forming a bottom support for thecigarettes in said rear compartment, an inwardly extending shelfintegral with said front plate and below the plane of the inwardlyextending portions of said rear plate, said front plate having anopening substantially in the center thereof and adjacent said shelf,outwardly I bulged portions from said side plates formsaid shelf an ingledges even with the top of said shelf, a point above said hook whensaid dispensing an outwardly bulged portion from said rear ledge evenwith the tospilof de led es, a dispensing do having an openinerethrouigh slidably mounted on said s elf and si e finger (pieceintegral with said slide and adapte to protrude through said openin insaid front plate, a spring attached to sai slide and adapted to rest onthe ledge in said rearflplate and urge said slide toward said frontlate, a swing'door pivoted between said si e plates below said artitionand providing a passage between t e bottom of said rear compartment andthe bottom of said front compartment, and a plurality of noses integralwithsaid slide and slightly hi her than and ada ted to move between saiinwardl exten ing portions ofs'aid rear plate.

3. n a cigarette disfpensing and lighting machine, a' container or asupply 0 cigarettes, dispensing means slidably mounted at the bottom ofsaid contianer to drop cigarettes, one at a time, from said container,means to lock said dispensing means' in an inoperative position, anigmtion element, means to catch each cigarette and guide one end thereofagainst said i where'it rests b its own we ght, and means operated bysai dispensing means to actuate said ignition element. i

4. In a cigarette dispensing and lightin machine, means to dispense acigarette an meansto light the dispensed cigarette including a flue, anignition device comprising a wire heating element, a non-conductingsupport therefor having a duct therethrough, and means to releasablysecure said support and heating element at the bottom of sai flue toprovide a path for a current of air through said duct, element and upsaid flue.

plate forming a s1 ledges, a

means is o rated, to catch and hold a ciganette there tween and adaptedto move orward from said stationary portion to release one end of saidcigarette and allow said end to dro into the hook ofsaid stationaryportion w en said dispensing means is returned to normal position.

7. In a oi arette d nsin "and h htin g 2 g t machine, ,a container or asupply 0 cigarettes comprising front and rear compartments, a swinginggate separating the lower ends of sai compartments, dispensing means toremove cigarettes, one at a time, from said front compartment, and meansconnected with said dispensing means to move cigarettes, one at a time,from said rear compartment beneath said swingin gate into said frontcompartment when sai ront compartment is empty;

In testimony whereof" I have aflixed my signature to this specification.n SERQIUS VERNET.

ition element v across said heating 5. In a cigarette dis ensilig andl'ghti'ng machine, a container or a su pl 0 cigarettes,-.a dispensingmeans at the bottom of said container to drop one cigarette at a timefrom said container, a hook attached to said container, a second hookattached to said dispensing1 means said hooks being substantially in 'nean cooperating to receive a cigarette when said dispensing means isoperated and inclined forwardly when said dispensing means is releasedto brin one en of s'aidcigarette into more easify removable position.

6. In a cigarette di?ensing and 1i hting machine, a container or a suppl0? cigarettes, a dispensing means at the ottom of said container to dropone cigarette at a time from said container, a pair of hooks to receivesaid cigarette, one of said hooks COIHPIISJIlg a stationary hook portionattached to said container and a movable por-

